2025

Experiments for Change in a Shifting Global Context

March 14-15, 2025

Goals

In shifting global and domestic contexts, the FORGE Program is dedicated to uncovering new approaches and solutions that reimagine rights and governance worldwide. With the hope of building momentum toward a brighter future, FORGE seeks to: 

  1. Inspire the global community of practice with new ideas about global rights and governance.

  2. Encourage experimentation with new actions (methods, practices) that can transform the outcomes for rights and governance worldwide.

Background and Need

Acknowledging the challenges for global rights and governance, what new approaches, methods, and solutions can regenerate and rejuvenate networks seeking to steward healthy democracies, defend human rights, and protect the flourishing of our planet’s diverse ecosystems? What ideas and actions might we nurture at the local, regional, and international levels toward this goal?

The premise of this gathering  is that - in the wake of weakening democracies, rising inequalities, technological disruption and ecological emergencies - the future of rights and governance requires bold, new approaches from a broad range of disciplines and local contexts working together. Building from the momentum of FORGE 2023 and the 2024 Experiments for Change, FORGE 2025 seeks to  strengthen a solutions-oriented community of legal experts, artists, social scientists, governance professionals, and community-based practitioners who share a desire to renew democracy, improve the stewardship of Earth’s ecosystems, think consciously about technology, and address rising inequalities worldwide. The FORGE Program is loosely organized these four themes: 

  • Democratic Renewal: showcase, co-develop, and unpack ideas and solutions that contribute to democratic resilience and renewal

  • Ecological Emergencies: avert the worst scenarios of climate change, biodiversity loss, and other ecological challenges by drawing on ideas and efforts by youth collectives, Indigenous peoples, leading voices in governments and civil society, and more

  • Technology: discuss the risks and opportunities posed by AI and other digital technologies, building on the work of leading technologists, advocates, regulators, and global rights and governance researchers 

  • Rising Inequalities: explore the multiple effects of inequalities on rights and justice, fostering creative and collaborative thinking about new equality- and rights-enhancing norms and practices

At FORGE 2025, we will amplify the cross-thematic conversation by inviting a small group of practitioners from across these thematic interests to be in conversation and discussion within the same room. The full two-day program will be hosted for an intimate gathering of 40 participants, with the afternoon programming open to the public.

Applying for FORGE 2025

The application deadline to participate in the full program has closed.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at forge@nyu.edu.

For general attendance, tickets for public events will be released closer to the convening dates.

  • In the application, we ask you to submit the following:

    • Bio(s) (200 words max per participant)

    • Headshot(s)

    • Brief pitch (200-300 word) for an Open Global Rights (OGR) article exploring the FORGE 2025 conference topic and themes. Please highlight ideas and actions that can transform human rights and governance practices worldwide, based on your particular area of practice or expertise.  Your idea should rethink the what, the how, and/or the who of global rights and governance. For publication, your article will go through the full OGR editorial process.

      Additional prompts: 

      • What problem(s) are you trying to solve? 

      • What have you tried before? 

      • What are the experimental questions at the core of your ideas or actions?

      • What is a possible action plan/method/process to carry out an experiment for change that could transform the fields of rights and global governance

      • What are the audiences for your idea or actions? And how do you plan to engage them?

      • At what level are you focused? (local, regional, international

      • Describe the possible large-scale impact your ideas and actions could have on international governance. 

      • If you’d like additional inspiration, feel free to check out our 2024 Experiments for Change. 

    You can apply as an individual or as a team (max 3 people). We encourage applications from practitioners and scholars in all fields, including rights and governance, the arts and sciences, community-based practitioners, and practitioners from the Global South.

  • The conference participation fee includes: 

    • Full participation in the FORGE 2025 Schedule

    • Editorial support from the OGR team toward publication of an article in the FORGE Series

    Participants can choose from the the following registration packages:

    • Regular: $250

    • Nonprofit: $150

    • Student: $75

    • Reduced rate or full waiver   

    Upon their acceptance into the program, participants who may find the costs prohibitive for their participation are encouraged to apply for a reduced rate or waiver by contacting the FORGE team at forge@nyu.edu with a brief explanation. Please note that accommodations and travel will be paid for by attendees.

    • The deadline to submit your application is December 15, 2024.

    • Selection and participation confirmation will be finalized no later than January 31, 2025